NATO has decided to expand cooperation with Japan and South Korea. The fact that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is sending a delegation of approximately 300 representatives to Japan and South Korea is evidence of this.
This visit has caused dissatisfaction in Beijing. The "Global Times" newspaper published in Beijing wrote that NATO is trying to expand its military, political, and diplomatic activities at the expense of the Asia-Pacific region.
Thus, NATO is implementing a policy of eastward expansion. With this, the bloc is trying to show that its strength has not weakened. Because U.S. President Donald Trump, the main country of NATO, severely criticized the organization, negatively affecting the alliance's image. NATO did not support Trump's call to "jointly protect the Strait of Hormuz." As a result, Trump made statements that the U.S. might leave NATO. However, fulfilling this is not easy. Congress must decide for the U.S. to leave NATO. On the other hand, if the U.S. leaves NATO, it may lose its military bases in Europe. This would negatively impact the U.S.'s superpower status.
Nevertheless, contradictions in U.S.-NATO relations have affected the unity of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In this regard, NATO's increasing military cooperation with Japan and South Korea shows that the organization is not in the background on security issues.
Authorities in Brussels are confident that Europe's security is directly dependent on Asia's security. For this reason, NATO has started to give importance to the Asian direction, increasing joint military exercises with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
In January of last year, Japan opened a permanent mission to NATO. In a statement issued by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that Japan is a partner sharing fundamental values and strategic interests with NATO. To protect itself from China's threat, Japan has also expanded military cooperation with neighboring countries. For example, in 2014, Japan and Australia signed a military cooperation agreement worth 7 billion dollars.
Japan's increase in military power and strengthening its alliance with NATO is worrying Moscow as well as Beijing. The Kremlin believes that Japan should not increase its military power based on the post-World War II conditions. However, China's growing military power in the region, including the China-Russia military exercises near Japanese shores, has left Tokyo no alternative but to increase its military power.
Elkhan Shahinoglu,
political scientist